Day 2 Exploring the City
Out into the City, after an Italian b’fast – slices of meat, cheese, croissant and scrambled eggs.
But we were late getting out and ran into the Palio supporters and their horse
. The Contradas practise twice a day – 9am and 7pm and when the practise is done the horse 
and the supporters walk back to the ‘hood, singing all the way.
The City is not that full yet even thought the race is only two days away and the walking is easy but only to about 1130 when the cafes open and the ‘early birds’ need to sit down.
We made our way around the Palio, and made our way to the 
Piazza del Duomo where I exchanged the voucher on my phone for actual tickets. Using the ‘reserved’ line it was easy.
The tickets we have are valid for three days and for the complex – five sites. We saw three this morning – the Duomo, the Library and the Museo. I have to go back later to see the Crypt – a place Doreen doesn’t want to see and the Baptistry.
So after a coffee break, we went back to the hotel to sit in the A/C, but I had to dash out and find a charging cable for Doreen’s phone, every other cable was here but that one. The little store across the Street had one; 3.90 euros ($5.90cdn) a bargain!
In the afternoon, about 3.30pm we went out to get some eats – didn’t find much, most places close after lunch – 2.30pm. We did get caught up in the afternoon parades. 
This time it was the childrens’ turn. Not knowing what was going I could only guess that it was some kind of blessing as the parade entered a church and then paraded out. Led by a flagbearer and a stretcher containing large candles which was being carried by four handlers.
Later we wandered up to the Campo and tons of Police checking 
tickets. A bit of a performance as the local Police Chief appeared to be directing operations with a street sweeper and a water sprayer eradicating what might have been horse poop!